58: Chapter 58 I heard someone has put a bounty on my head?
In front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, the city skyline of San Verde was in full view.
This was the top floor of the Transamerica Pyramid, now the power center of the Umbrella Corporation. Below, the masses looked as small as ants, and the flow of traffic converged into a glowing river.
Chen Yuan casually tossed the phone displaying the threatening text message onto the marble tabletop, creating a crisp clattering sound.
"Boss, that reflection just now..."
Alice stood to the side, the tactical tablet in her hand displaying a thermal imaging scan of the building opposite. "It's confirmed to be a sniper. However, after you made your gesture, the target has already retreated. Do we need to pursue?"
"No need, just a few scouting rats."
Chen Yuan unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down in the boss chair that symbolized absolute power, crossing his legs and resting them on the edge of the desk. "If we kill them, who will go back to report the news? Fear is something that requires a medium to spread."
Just then, the heavy bulletproof door of the office was pushed open violently.
Victor rushed in.
This intelligence chief, who usually cherished his reputation above all else and always maintained the flair of his floral shirt, had lost one of his flip-flops, his face was covered in greasy sweat, and he was clutching an encrypted laptop as if it were a nuclear bomb ready to explode at any moment.
"Boss! It's blown up! It's completely blown up!"
Victor was panting for breath and shoved the computer screen right in front of Chen Yuan. "Look at the Dark Web! Just a moment ago, that bounty post about you was pinned and highlighted!"
Chen Yuan glanced at the screen nonchalantly.
The Dark Web's famous "Bloody Wanted Order" section.
The originally pitch-black background was now rendered in a glaring blood-red. Right in the center of the page hung a high-definition photo of him standing on the wreckage of a tank in the mining area, flipping the bird.
Below the photo was a line of bold, constantly pulsing numbers.
【Target: Chen Yuan (Codename: prometheus)】
【Bounty: $100,000,000.00】
【Status: Active】
【Publisher: Anonymous (S-Class Reputation Certification)】
"One hundred million dollars."
Chen Yuan smacked his lips and reached out to tap on the string of zeros. "The photo is well-taken. Is this what you call 'violent aesthetics'? It seems the drone photographer that night was quite skilled."
Victor almost knelt down.
"Boss! Is now the time to discuss photography techniques? This is one hundred million dollars!"
He was scratching his head in anxiety, pointing at the frantically scrolling comment section below the screen. "Look at what these lunatics are saying! This is a globally broadcasted kill order!"
Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow and looked down.
The comment section was indeed very lively; it was practically a carnival party for perverts worldwide.
【Viper (Rank 19): One hundred million dollars? God, that's enough for me to buy an island in the Caribbean. I've booked this head; I'll kill anyone who tries to steal it from me.】
【Mechanic (Rank 07): Tsk tsk, heard this guy has that serum that can make people stronger? Kill him, then steal the formula—that's a profitable deal. I've already booked a flight to Mexico.】
【Black Rose: Such a handsome man, it's a pity to kill him. I'll drug him first, turn him into a specimen, and keep him by my bedside.】
【Bomb Maniac: Ripping apart tanks with bare hands? Interesting. I wonder if he can withstand my little C4 darlings? I'm planning to blow up the entire building on top of him!】
Various languages, various methods, all sorts of things.
Even through the screen, one could smell that thick, nauseating scent of blood and greed.
"Over three thousand replies."
Victor swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "That means there are at least three thousand top-tier assassins, mercenaries, and even terrorists staring at your neck right now. Boss, should we... should we hide? The shelter on the fifth underground level is very safe."
"Hide?"
Chen Yuan chuckled lightly, picked up the coffee on the table, and took a sip. "Victor, do you know why these people can only chatter like rats on the Dark Web?"
"Why?"
"Because they can't stand the light."
Chen Yuan set down his cup, his eyes revealing an arrogance that radiated from his bones. "And I, I stand in the sunlight, at the highest point of San Verde. You want me to hide from a bunch of rats? Do they deserve that?"
He reached out, tapped on the keyboard a few times, and logged into an account.
It was an ID he had just registered—【Umbrella_CEO】.
"Since they want to play, I'll play a big one with them."
Chen Yuan said, while opening his Swiss bank account interface.
His fingertips danced.
A series of complex transfer operations were completed within a few seconds.
"Boss, what... what are you doing?" Victor had an ominous premonition.
"One hundred million dollars is indeed a lot. But in my opinion, my life is worth more than that."
The smile on the corners of Chen Yuan's mouth grew wider and wider, eventually turning into a chilling arrogance. "This is simply insulting me."
"Ding."
As the Enter key was struck heavily, the Dark Web's server seemed to stutter for a second.
Immediately after, a striking golden reply popped up below the pinned bounty post. This reply not only had special effects but also, due to the massive influx of funds, instantly dominated everyone's screen.
【Umbrella_CEO: Only one hundred million? Too pathetic.】
【Since everyone is so interested, I'll personally sponsor another one hundred million dollars.】
【The bounty is now two hundred million.】
【I am right here, at the top of the Transamerica Pyramid. Whoever has the ability, come and take it.】
Chen Yuan even thoughtfully attached a real-time GPS coordinate.
At that moment, the entire Dark Web forum was deathly silent.
Victor, in front of the computer, opened his mouth wide, his jaw nearly dislocating and hitting his feet. He looked at his boss as if he were looking at a mental patient who had just escaped from an asylum.
Putting a bounty on himself?
And thinking the money wasn't enough, adding another one hundred million?
This move—let alone on the Dark Web, it was the first time in all of human history!
"Bo... Boss..." Victor felt like he was about to faint. "Are you... tired of living?"
"No."
Chen Yuan stood up, straightened his suit, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
He looked at the sky outside that was gradually darkening, and at the monsters and demons hiding in the shadows of the city, the light in his eyes brighter than the stars.
"This is called—luring the snake out of its hole."
"Instead of letting them buzz around me like flies all day, it's better to throw this piece of rotten meat out and let them gather together."
Chen Yuan turned around and snapped his fingers at the petrified Victor:
"Killing them all at once is what you call clean."
"Pass the word down, lower the security level to the minimum tonight. Open the doors wide; anyone who wants to come in can."
"I want to see exactly how many people are not afraid of death and dare to come and take this money."